Tools and Best Practices - ASK ME
K = Key message
Step 3. What do people need to know to understand and try the solution?
A good key message gives people the essential information they need to try a solution successfully.
Keep it focused. Distinguish between what people must know and what is nice to know.
Try the Interactive Key Message Tool
1. Explain the benefit
Why should they be interested?
2. Explain what to do
What do they need to know to try it successfully?
Break the solution into its essential elements:
3. Make the message actionable
Can someone understand what to do and act on it?
A good key message should be:
Material to help
Developing the Key Message – Fact Sheet
The key message guides communication by defining what people need to know. It provides the foundation for deciding how to package, demonstrate, and communicate the information later.
Before moving on, you should be able to answer: Why should people try the solution? What exactly do they need to do? And what are the few things they must get right?
A good key message gives people the essential information they need to try a solution successfully.
Keep it focused. Distinguish between what people must know and what is nice to know.
Try the Interactive Key Message Tool
1. Explain the benefit
Why should they be interested?
- What problem or opportunity does the solution address?
- What benefits can they realistically expect?
- Why might it be worthwhile for them to try?
2. Explain what to do
What do they need to know to try it successfully?
Break the solution into its essential elements:
- What needs to be done?
- When and where should it be done?
- What inputs, resources, or skills are needed?
- What are the critical steps that must be done correctly?
- What can be adapted to local circumstances?
3. Make the message actionable
Can someone understand what to do and act on it?
A good key message should be:
- Simple enough to understand
- Specific enough to act on
- Practical under local conditions
- Focused on the few actions that matter most
Material to help
Developing the Key Message – Fact Sheet
The key message guides communication by defining what people need to know. It provides the foundation for deciding how to package, demonstrate, and communicate the information later.
Before moving on, you should be able to answer: Why should people try the solution? What exactly do they need to do? And what are the few things they must get right?
